A Blue Whale, Bateleur Eagle and some “Little People”

The above painting began as an abstract. I applied alternating color washes and torn pieces of rice papers, allowing each layer to dry. After each layer dried, I rotated my board and looked for something realistic in the patterns that were created by the washes and papers. When I located the whale, I began layering and painting to bring that imagery forward. It is one of my favorite ways to work. Here is the one I did last year.

The above painting began with a detailed drawing of the Bateleur Eagle but took several layers of watercolor and rice papers to bring the image to completion. The head feathers, face and yellow beak are watercolor. The wing and back feathers are torn pieces of rice paper with watercolor painted into them. I thank wet canvas for the reference image for this collage painting.

Hi Leslie, I love how you found the whale while painting your abstract with color washes and torn papers. The whale is quite distinct. I love the he looks like he is coming up through waves and seaweed. The eagle has beautiful layers of feathers with both paint and paper. And who doesn’t love little people. 🙂

it’s very clear to see from the completed paintings, just how much you enjoy working this way – lovely paintings – all three of them. I see you used a smidgen of gold here and there in the ‘whale’ image, which really adds something special.